The United States imported crude oil worth $578.78 million from Nigeria in the first quarter of 2026, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The report revealed a 15 per cent decline compared to the $681.40 million recorded during the same period in 2025, reflecting reduced demand and shifting global oil trade patterns.
Data from the report showed that the U.S. imported 7.84 million barrels of Nigerian crude between January and March 2026, down from 8.44 million barrels during the corresponding period last year.
On a monthly basis, imports dropped significantly from 4.64 million barrels in February to 1.54 million barrels in March, while the value of imports also fell sharply from $345.33 million to $114.49 million within the same period.
Despite the decline, Nigeria remained one of Africa’s key crude oil suppliers to the American market, with its light sweet crude grades continuing to play an important role in U.S. refining operations.
However, Nigeria’s share of total U.S. crude imports from Africa declined considerably, dropping from over 61 per cent in Q1 2025 to about 35 per cent in Q1 2026 amid increased competition from other African exporters including Libya and Ghana.
The report also highlighted broader challenges facing Nigeria’s oil sector, as recent figures from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited showed a sharp drop in crude oil sales volumes in March, pointing to ongoing evacuation and logistics difficulties.
Industry analysts say the figures reflect evolving global energy trade dynamics, supply adjustments, and changing demand patterns in the international oil market.
